PARAGON
I stumbled on to this so I know You are in AG. We have more in common now as I farmed most of my life and got tired of Gov. interference. I had 5000 acres 1100 owned and paid for. Raised rice so if You need a back up rice man or combine driver let Me know I can run anything. IN 1998 I farmed the whole thing with Me and 2 retired guys who worked part time. I offered $2000 a month at coop for help for 6 months cash money and could get no takers. I cut rice acreage back and went heavy beans no-til and some corn. I got down to the last fields of beans having hired a worthless harvester to help and His engine went down so while He is out wandering around Myself and 2 old men pull it and repair put it back in finished and told if He showed up for pay He was likely to walk away limping permantely or not at all. Well I almost worked Myself to death and late Oct. I told everyone I'm done I do not have to work this hard no one believed me but I called a broker and in 2 weeks of my statement made while pulling the engine i had sold had auction in feb. 99 equipment all paid for. Took a year off to compose myself mentally and went back to finding ways to make money i had not tried and so far everyone has been a big hit. I miss the smell of the fresh turned dirt there is nothing like it but that is all i miss. I bleed green but had some good red equipment too especially combine. I had once a JD 9500 that I traded a 7720 II turbo the last year made and it would have out cut the 9500 first year out, all kind of problems. finally bought a used 1840 just try one and it out cut the 9500 so i went on got new 1680 and it was a mean machine.
Well I'm reminicing to much I'll be back buying a small farm or something if i do not stop. But, seriouly if You ever need quick help in AG i can get it done. Farmed on my own since i was 25. Just went with a little money and asking to rent land just kept getting bigger. I know it has changed alot with GPS so i would be alittle behind but i had began to mess with it and the planes used it to spray. I bet You could get me up to speed real quick. I'm self taught on computers and so have not found one i could not fix, yet. I started with a 8088 in 1985 just when they were getting useful for bookkeeping and satilite crop pricing, weather etc. Just kept learning to upgrade myself and enjoyed it.
Thanks for bringing the memories back.
Hope You had a great year in farming. last 5 years I was in it was a pain to make a profit but i always found away. I started in early 80's right after big drought of 1980 in some of the tighest times first bean crop I sold for $4.85 no gov. support to speak of which i did not like anyway if possible. Then in the middle years did real good and then last 2 or 3 years it got tough again and I got out just before the past good years came about. Isn't that about they way it goes most times.
I think I remember You passing up academic scholarship. That is real wierd i had a full academic ride at U of A and passed it up as My Grandpaw's son took off leaving Him holding the bag so I stayed. I played with Dan Hampton in High School and I was the tailback. Frank came to see Him and saw Me My jr. year early and after being one of the leading rushers i had a chance to room with Dan and go on academic which back then would not count against football scholarship. Well I got messed up bad running a kick off back held up in a pile and last thing I remember was a black Jonesboro Huricane helment crown hitting me in the face. it crushed my face mask and crushed My nose running my football career. I got a plastic/cartilage nose bridge, tech was low way back in 70's, as the hit caved My mask into my face well You get the idea. I just remember waking up in a hospital with the second serious footbal injury one in sophmore year and single MOM that I helped raise 3 sisters starting at 13 even with some ins. MOM just begged Me not to play anymore We can not afford the med bills. When You have a MOM that works 14 hours a day to cover for sorry SOB that left her with 4 kids You really can not go against that so I past on college football and still feel the loss of not having given it a chance. I would have been with Ben Cowens, Jerry Eckwood and of course LOU Holtz who took over just as i would have been going up thier. I could have been in Florida for the big Orange Bowl game. Like My sorry Pop use to say to me when I asked for something. Spit in one hand a wish in the other and see which won fills up first. I guess that is why I have spoiled My girls so much i did not want them to need or want for anything.
BY they way Dan never played defense in HS. He was My right tackle and the reason for alot of My yards. Frank told Him He was going to defense. We played platoon in HS and He never got to play defense even when both of asked to play both ways coach would not og for it. I was alinebacker born and breed and played both ways until jr. HS. Frank said He wanted to put 20 lbs. on and move Me to line backer. I ran a 4.65 which back then was quite fast but not compared to now days. Thanks for taking a few minutes PARAGON for reading I appreciate it.
TAZ
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PARAGON:
IMO, I would get the leather. Even on our 2 farm trucks I opted for leather because cloth seats wore out too easily and the leather would take more abuse if you just gave them a little care now and then.
I don't think I will ever get cloth over leather if I can help it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>